The whereabouts of the contract I couldn’t find had been revealed.

‘It went to the Orbetian Count’s household. The very place I wanted most to hide it from.’

I was angry. What was happening to me now seemed filled with someone’s malice.

“What kind of document are you talking about?”

Still, I asked just to confirm. The answer came immediately.

“What kind of document? I’m talking about the contract you made with Duke Ferhaem, Julietta…….”

Ah. So it really was the contract. I quickly scanned the surroundings. There were too many ears listening.

“Let’s go inside first. It’d be better to talk in private.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, my elder brother nodded. I guided him into the parlor. I never expected to meet him like this again. Fate was truly cruel.

***

The parlor was quiet. My elder brother, whom I expected to immediately pour out words upon entering, remained silent. He seemed to have much he wanted to say. What was he holding back?

Valentino Brother hesitantly spoke to me.

“……I’m sorry for suddenly showing up at the ducal residence. I know you don’t welcome me, but I was desperate.”

Surprised by the unexpected apology, I briefly twitched my lips.

“It’s fine.”

Then my elder brother said something I didn’t want to hear.

“You know, Julietta. It was only after coming here and speaking with you that I realized I’ve never once truly looked back at you. I felt so sorry—so incredibly sorry—that I wrote you a letter. But you never replied…….”

I bit my lip. I cut him off.

“You didn’t come here to talk about that, Brother Valentino.”

“No. I didn’t come here for that. Recently, I heard news that you’re divorcing. Even I, who usually stay unaware of rumors, could hear people gossiping. My heart grew heavy, and I became worried about you.”

You worried about me……. My grip tightened on the teacup. An inexplicable emotion kept boiling inside me.

“But recently, an unidentified document arrived at the Orbetian Count’s household. Inside was the contract you and Duke Yezar Ferhaem had sealed. The first one to read it was Weaslet.”

‘Ah, little brother. I had hoped you’d be the last to find out.’

Weaslet’s words came back to me. The first time I told him I was marrying Yezar. He had looked at me seriously and said:

‘I want you to be happy, Julietta.’

He must’ve thought it was just a political marriage. How shocked he must’ve been to learn it was a time-bound contract marriage. How furious he must’ve felt.

He had believed Yezar would cherish me for life. To realize even that was a fake, with a set expiration date—of course he’d be enraged.

“I had to stop Weaslet from storming into the Ferhaem ducal residence with his sword drawn. He was in no state to be brought along, so I hurried here myself.”

Now, any unprepared lie would clearly fail. So I confessed the truth.

“……Yes. It wasn’t a long-term relationship. It was a marriage we both agreed upon, ending after a two-year contract.”

“Why on earth? I heard a brief explanation from Weaslet, but I don’t understand you, Julietta. Why would you marry a man who loves another woman? And why would you enter a marriage that’s clearly marked for divorce……!”

The emotions I had suppressed so hard burst out uncontrollably.

“Because it didn’t matter anyway……!”

The teacup I’d been gripping rolled across the tea table, spilling tea everywhere.

“Julietta?”

It didn’t matter. Honestly, I had thought any man who met my conditions would do. After all, love only brought pain.

“Love wasn’t necessary……. Since I wasn’t loved in the Orbetian Count’s household anyway. I had shouted at Brother Weaslet that I’d never prioritized something like love.”

I didn’t know what expression I was making. But I saw my elder brother looking at me with a face full of impending tears.

“I’m sorry……. I’m so sorry, Julietta.”

That pierced my heart even more painfully. It felt like countless sharp needles stabbing into my heart.

“Why are you apologizing now……? I’m already utterly exhausted. Brother, love, when unreciprocated, becomes nothing but terrible regret. Just like how I kept your letters neatly stacked in my study.”

With trembling body, I cast out the lingering regret I had kept inside.

“Recently, a spy infiltrated the Ferhaem ducal residence. Upon hearing they had ransacked my study, I instinctively headed there. Like a fool, without first checking whether the contract was missing, my eyes automatically went to the inner drawer of my desk—because that’s where your letters were. Even though I thought I wouldn’t touch them, I still checked if they were safe.”

Even though I hadn’t read them. Even though I thought meeting you face-to-face was foolish, a mere regret. Why did I check if those letters were intact?

Emotions surged uncontrollably. I didn’t want to cry, but tears kept flowing.

Brother Valentino reached out toward me, then clenched his fist and carefully spoke.

“……I want to properly talk with you now, Julietta. I’m sorry for always breaking promises and making you wait. Sorry for only showing you my back. From now on, I won’t push you aside with excuses of being busy.”

This was exactly why I didn’t want to meet. Why I didn’t want to read the letters. I knew my heart would tremble like a candle flame in the wind at words like these.

“Brother Valentino, I don’t want to be betrayed again. I don’t want to wait again. Being the one who always hopes and ends up disappointed—that’s been my fate.”

“I won’t do that. The reason I’m here is to bring you back to the Orbetian Count’s estate.”

“What……?”

Bring me back where?

“That contract is wrong. It’s filled only with conditions meant to exploit you. Even Weaslet gritted his teeth at the clause saying you must not interfere even if he loves another woman. And then, to leave after bearing a child! How could Duke Ferhaem pressure you into agreeing to such a contract……!”

Something about Brother Valentino’s words felt off. Our original contract clearly didn’t have such terms. We had mutually agreed upon equal conditions.

‘Could it be… the contract was forged……?’

The original contract was gone. In its place, a new contract filled with unfair clauses against me had arrived at the Orbetian Count’s estate.

Weaslet and Brother Valentino had read it and fallen into deep misunderstanding—that the Ferhaem ducal family had pressured me into signing it.

What utter nonsense. Now I understood why Weaslet had raged so violently. Before even discerning truth from falsehood, emotions had run wild.

This happened right after rumors spread that I wanted a divorce from Yezar. Doubt had turned into certainty.

“I won’t go back to the Orbetian Count’s estate.”

“Julietta……!”

“You’re mistaken, Brother. I never agreed to such an unfair contract, nor was I ever pressured by the Ferhaem ducal family. And even if it began as a contract marriage, now it’s……!”

But Brother Valentino wouldn’t listen.

“Julietta, you clearly told me it was a marriage based on a two-year contract. You said you started it because you thought love wasn’t necessary! Nothing else matters. I won’t let you harm yourself any longer.”

You won’t let me harm myself? Without even knowing how happy my married life has been. Without respecting my opinion, acting on your own again……!

“Don’t tell me you’re doing this for my sake!”

If you truly cared for me, you’d listen. At least you’d look at my expression right now.

“Is this what caring for me looks like? You’re trying to take me back to the Orbetian estate without even listening to me! It was you, Brother, who never cared to know anything about me. If you had wanted to doubt me, you could’ve doubted from the start. You should’ve known I, who always stayed locked in my room, couldn’t possibly have an old lover……! Brother Weaslet knew that! But you, my elder brother, didn’t even know such a simple fact……. And now, without listening to me again, you’re trying to drag me back to that lonely place, claiming it’s for my own good! By what right……!”

The argument dragged on. But they were family, so I didn’t want to draw a sword. I didn’t want to overpower them by force.

Damn it, even at this very moment, I was still thinking of the family who always abandoned me.

“I love him……. I prefer being here over staying at the Orbetian Count’s estate. I care for the people here.”

It was the truth. This place had become my home. The time I spent with these people had become incredibly precious. Finally, my sincere plea seemed to make Brother Valentino’s gaze waver, as if he realized something was wrong. But it was too late—the water had already spilled.

“……Julietta, Father will be arriving here soon. He said he can no longer allow you to remain in the Ferhaem ducal residence.”